Israeli Embassy: US and Israeli officials strongly condemned the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, DC, on Wednesday night as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. The victims, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, were a young couple reportedly preparing to get engaged. Lischinsky had just purchased a ring. The shooting occurred near the US Attorney General’s office and an FBI field office at the intersection of 3rd and F Streets NW.

Who is the Suspect?

Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, approached a group of four and opened fire before entering the museum, where security guards apprehended him, according to Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith.

First responders found the victims unresponsive and declared them dead despite efforts to revive them. As officers arrested him, Rodriguez allegedly shouted ‘Free, free Palestine’ and revealed where he had discarded the weapon.

Who is Elias Rodriguez?

Authorities identified 30-year-old Chicago resident Elias Rodriguez as the sole suspect in the shooting. He had no prior criminal record and had not previously appeared on law enforcement’s radar.

Reports say Rodriguez participated in social justice demonstrations and engaged with groups like the Party for Socialism and Liberation. Witnesses saw him pacing outside the museum before the shooting, but officials have not yet confirmed his exact motive.

Washington DC Shooting: Official Responses

The shooting swiftly triggered outrage and criticism. Former US President Donald Trump condemned the attack as ‘horrible’ and stressed that hatred has no place in America.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed devastation over the tragedy that killed two young embassy staff members, calling it a ‘despicable act of hatred and anti-Semitism.’ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the incident and ordered tighter security at Israeli missions worldwide, blaming it on the rise of anti-Semitism.

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US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem vowed to bring the ‘depraved perpetrator’ to justice and confirmed that federal authorities are investigating the incident. Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser pledged zero tolerance for violence or hate and reaffirmed the community’s unified stand against anti-Semitism.

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